Aggressive panhandling by the homeless raises concern of business leaders, public safety officials

SARATOGA SPRINGS -- Downtown Business Association members met with public safety officials recently to discuss an issue they see as a growing concern: "aggressive" panhandling downtown by the city's homeless population.

DBA President Jeff Clark told the City Council in May that "the problem this year is greater than it has been." He said that is the consensus of many of the business owners in his organization.

Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III and Saratoga Springs Police Chief Greg Veitch were among those to meet with Clark and other business owners who, Veitch said, are not the only ones expressing the concern.

He has heard about the issue from a number of people outside DBA, too, "who are concerned with what they perceive as more 'aggressive' panhandling, public intoxication and rude behavior."

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Whether there are more homeless people is a matter of debate.

Clark said his organization's members believe the homeless population has "increased year over year."

On the other hand, Shelters of Saratoga Executive Director Peter Whitten said "our experience with the homeless population remains as it has -- it has been consistent."

Veitch said while the department does not keep track of the numbers, he doesn't believe their numbers have increased.

Many agree that some of the development of the downtown district may be making the homeless more visible.

For instance, the former parking lot next to Lillian's Restaurant was a frequent spot for those who didn't have a shelter, but new construction has eliminated that space.

The Woodlawn Avenue parking garage, too, frequently appears in the police blotter with calls to police about the homeless taking shelter in its stairwells.

Veitch said he doesn't believe there is a significant increase in the kind of crime Clark refers to, "but the perception of an increase in undesirable behavior is a concern."

Of course, Veitch said, the behavior is often a minor violation, if it even rises to being illegal.

"Someone who is homeless has the same right to peaceably sit on any park bench or stand on any street corner they choose. Passive begging and what is generally considered "loitering" is not illegal. Being drunk in public is not illegal," Veitch said.

Breaches of the law are enforced, he said, but they are typically minor.

Murphy said when the crimes are charged and prosecuted, "that is just a short-term fix that doesn't really solve the problem."

They are often ticketed, or at most jailed for a few days, he said.

Most of the time, though, they are moved along.

"It's easy to move them from place to place," Murphy said, but providing long-term shelter is the bigger issue."

People who stay at Shelters of Saratoga are required to adhere to certain rules like a curfew and rules prohibiting alcohol which some homeless people may not be willing or able to do.

Veitch pointed out that oftentimes, the long-term homeless are battling mental health or substance-abuse issues, or both. "These are not problems that can be effectively dealt with by making arrests," he said.

Shelters of Saratoga expanded its capacity last year from 19 beds to 31 beds and has begun a mobile outreach program, but the issue of homelessness persists.

Before retiring, Police Chief Christopher Cole applied for a grant that would bring funding for three additional police officers to walk the beats downtown and at Jefferson and Vanderbilt terraces.

Clark said he is hopeful beat cops and bicycle officers downtown may be able to quell some of the concerns of business owners.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," he said.

Veitch said that as the city moves into the summer there will be an increased police presence downtown and resources will be allocated to places identified as "particularly difficult to deal with."

He said there will be an ongoing effort with all parties involved to address the issue.

"Together, we may be able to find a solution to the problem rather than continually responding to the same locations for the same issues, ultimately frustrating everyone in-volved," he said.